It wasn't supposed to go down like this. No one was supposed to die, no one was supposed to be hurt. It was just a meet-up, the same sort of meet-up that had been going on for months. Backing into a corner I grasped my wand and fought two dark-cloaked people, green flashed and I ducked, diving sideways in an attempt to escape the dangerous situation.
Several meters away lay another cloaked figured and next to them stood Harry, breathing heavily. He glanced up and smiled before turning away and attacking the next wave of Death Eaters. I turned back to the two that had cornered me and shot off stunning spells, continuing to back away. I had no desire to truly harm the two informants, only to play fight with them.
"Hermione! We need an out," Harry's worried voice was my only warning before a dark cloud spread over the alley that we had been fighting in. In another moment the fog cleared and Voldemort stood, watching us. He made a clicking noise and the two Death Eaters that I had been half heartedly fighting fell back.
They stood next to their supposed master and stood straight, posture perfected through years of effort, lessons, and the occasional ruler. With a snap of his fingers, Voldemort melted the silver masks of the two revealing the pale face of Draco Malfoy and the warmer tones of Theodore Nott.
With a swallow Harry and I moved together, hands dropping to hold onto each other, since Ginny's death nearly a year ago I knew that Theo had become much closer to Harry and I was well aware of the feelings between Draco and myself. With silent steps, Voldemort came closer and let out a dark little laugh.
"I had no idea, Draco, Theo," the way he said their names crawled around the area and made me shiver, "that you and Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger had blooming relationships."
The Death Eaters that had appeared just before Voldemort apparated shifted, sending wary glances at each other as Voldemort continued. "I do believe we have a couple of traitors on our hands," with quickened steps Voldemort returned to the two maskless boys.
With a sigh Voldemort faced them and then in a move too fast to be seen he struck, his long fingernails digging into the throat of-
I let out a whimper as Draco collapsed, onto Voldemort only to be shoved off and stepped over. Theo stared into his master's face with fearful eyes that glanced at his best friend who was laying on the ground choking on his blood. Voldemort lifted his bloodied fingers and smeared Draco's blood onto Theo's face before sweeping past the trembling boy.
Facing his followers he smirked and spoke, "While I meant to strike dear Theodore's throat it appears that Draco has taken the sins of his friend for himself. We shall welcome Mr. Nott back into our fold, though there will be the understanding that he is never to be trusted or left to himself again." With a glance backward that encompassed both the twitching body, Hermione's crumpled body, and Harry's shock he finished his little speech, "I am a fair and benevolent master after all."
With the wave of their master's hand, the mass of Death Eaters first grabbed Theo and dragged him into their clump before disapparating in a column of black smoke. Before Voldemort himself stepped forward and kicked Draco over until he was laying on his back still attempting to breathe, "I hope the Order found them useful," he hissed before also disapparating.
As soon as the dark cloud disappeared, Harry half dragged me to the trembling body of the boy I'd started calling my all. I leaned over his face, hands trying to close the holes in his throat, desperately trying to stop the impossible. "Please," I whispered staring into his silver eyes that were frantically moving and blinking as a tear dripped from his eye.
I left one hand on his throat and with the other stroked his face as he blinked up at me. It took me a moment before I realized that he was speaking, not with words or touch but through his eyes. Short blink then long, then two more short, a brief pause before three more long blinks. Blood leaked through my fingers as he continued, three short and then a long before another brief pause, and a short blink. I trembled and cried translating the Morse code as he started the next word. A long blink, a short blink, and then two more long blinks, a pause, three long blinks, another pause, two shorts one long before the eyes closed and a low grunting sound emerged.
"I love you too Draco," I finally removed my hand from his neck and kissed him on the forehead, "Wait for me in Heaven?" I whispered, waiting for the final eighteen blinks. Instead, I realized that his body had ceased shuddering and his eyes lay open, empty and cold.
I let out a hollow sound, "No, Draco please- you always promised. Always!"